Injury to Tom Savage could lead Rutgers to turn to Dom Natale at QB again

John Munson/The Star-LedgerFifth-year senior Dom Natale (11) hasn't played much since losing the starting quarterback job to Tom Savage. But he may have to start in place of Savage Saturday in the Scarlet Knights' first road game, at Maryland.
Dom Natale insists nothing has changed for him this week. He’s still preparing with the mind-set that he could play, isn’t certain if he will, and has no idea what his role might be on Saturday.

But things have changed for the fifth-year senior — again.

The head injury suffered by starting quarterback Tom Savage last Saturday, the one that coach Greg Schiano said has the woozy true freshman “50-50” to play Saturday at Maryland, could mean Rutgers (2-1) will have to turn back to Natale at a key juncture in the Knights’ season.

“I say it every week: I come out and prepare the same way, whether I’m the starter or the second guy. Whatever my role is,” Natale said. “It’s a little harder now. It’s uncertain. At the same time, you have to keep working as hard as you can.”

After a four-year wait to finally be the starter, Natale lasted one half in the 47-15 season-opening loss to Cincinnati before being yanked in favor of Savage. He has played only sparingly since then.

He admits to some disappointment over what happened but hasn’t allowed it to sour his attitude — something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Schiano, who has praised Natale’s handling of the situation.

“It’s natural (to be disappointed). It’s obvious anyone would feel that,” Natale said of his quick demotion. “At the same time, I have a responsibility to my teammates. It’s the oldest cliché in the world. You can’t be too selfish about it. You’ve got to go out there (and practice). They’re still my guys. I still have to go out there and work.

“It’s kind of the way the cards played out. There’s nothing you can do about it but come out and work as hard as you can. If you don’t, you’re not giving yourself a chance.”

Savage’s status for the game against the Terps (1-2) has been uncertain all week, even though on Monday — the only day he is available to the media — he declared himself ready to go.

Schiano has never said that Savage suffered a concussion when he was sacked with 13:03 to play against Florida International, acknowledging only that he has a head injury — though Savage did say he was “knocked out cold” on the play. He also apparently has a sore shoulder.

“Tom is okay. He’s not out of the woods, so we’ll see,” Schiano said following practice. “We have some time before kickoff.”

Pressed further, Schiano said “it’s 50-50 that he plays.”

That means Natale, whose three-interception half against Cincinnati had fans clamoring for Savage, could be back under center for Rutgers’ first road trip of the season.

“It’s a crazy game,” Natale said. “It’s a cliché — you’re one play away. At the same time, I have a responsibility to my teammates whether I’m the starter or the second guy, whatever my role is. I have a responsibility to them to prepare as hard as I can in case I do play.”

Natale said his little sister probably took his abrupt demotion the hardest.

“She’s 11,” he said. “She’s a little more emotional than the rest of us.”

Desmond Wynn’s first career start last week as Rutgers’ new right guard went so well that the third-year sophomore is in line to make a second one against Maryland.

“I was kind of nervous at first,” said the 6-6, 275-pounder. “But I started thinking ‘I’ve been getting ready for this all week. Why be nervous when I’m ready?’”

Wynn, a promising defensive lineman when he arrived in Piscataway, missed his freshman year after undergoing shoulder surgery. He spent most of last season on the defensive line before being switched to offense.

“It has been a long road,” he said. “I’ve been working hard the whole time to get to this point.”

True freshman wide receiver Mohamed Sanu knows the Knights have to get more production from their punt return game — and is confident they will. Sanu has fielded all six punts so far, to a measly average of 2.5 yards per return.

“I’m worried about catching the ball first. That’s the first thing you have to do,” said Sanu. “I can’t worry about the run until that. You’ve got to worry about building your house and catching the ball first, before you do anything. You can’t run without the ball.”